Eliminating external air infiltration in edge containers

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product are provided. Fan speed is determined for one or more air conditioning unit (ACU) fans and stored to computer memory in response to detecting a request for authorized entrance to the modular data center. ACU fans are adjusted in preparation to deploying retractable baffles that, when deployed, form a temporary vestibule within a space of the modular data center. The retractable baffles are deployed to form the temporary vestibule within the space of the modular data center. Computing resources in the modular data center are shielded from contaminant air that enters the temporary vestibule when the external door is open. The external door is unlocked to allow user entrance to the temporary vestibule. When the external door closes, air is purged from the temporary vestibule. Retractable baffles are retracted. The fan speeds are restored from the computer memory.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 determining a fan speed for one or more air conditioning unit (ACU) fans and storing the fan speeds to a computer memory for later recall in response to detecting a request for authorized entrance to a modular data center;   adjusting the one or more ACU fans in preparation to deploying one or more retractable baffles that, when deployed, form a temporary vestibule within a space of the modular data center;   deploying the one or more retractable baffles to form the temporary vestibule within the space of the modular data center, thereby shielding computing resources in the modular data center from contaminant air that enters the temporary vestibule when the external door is open;   unlocking the external door to allow entry to the temporary vestibule;   detecting the entry into the temporary vestibule and closure of the external door;   purging the contaminant air from the temporary vestibule;   retracting the one or more retractable baffles, exposing computing resources in the modular data center to the space used for the temporary vestibule; and   restoring the one or more ACU fans to the one or more fan speeds from the computer memory.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a first set of one or more ACU fans for a computing resources portion of the modular data center, and a second set of one or more ACU fans for the temporary vestibule:
 wherein the first set of one or more ACU fans adjusts to maintain cooling of the computing resources; and   the second set of one or more ACU fans pressurizes the temporary vestibule.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one ACU fan is interposed between the one or more retractable baffles and the external door. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ACU fans purge the contaminant air from the vestibule through an exhaust plenum directly connected to an exhaust fan inserted in a wall of the modular data center. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable baffles include an overhead roll up door. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable baffles include an overhead door on a track. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ACU fan speed in the portion of the edge container that is outside the temporary vestibule is adjusted to maintain a temperature within an operating range of the computing resources in the modular data center, in response to the opening of the external door. 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory tangible storage device having program code embodied therewith, the program code executable by a processor of a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
 determining a fan speed for one or more air conditioning unit (ACU) fans and storing the fan speeds to a computer memory for later recall in response to detecting a request for authorized entrance to a modular data center;   adjusting the one or more ACU fans in preparation to deploying one or more retractable baffles that, when deployed, form a temporary vestibule within a space of the modular data center;   deploying the one or more retractable baffles to form the temporary vestibule within the space of the modular data center, thereby shielding computing resources in the modular data center from contaminant air that enters the temporary vestibule when the external door is open;   unlocking the external door to allow entry to the temporary vestibule;   detecting the entry into the temporary vestibule and closure of the external door;   purging the contaminant air from the temporary vestibule;   retracting the one or more retractable baffles, exposing computing resources in the modular data center to the space used for the temporary vestibule; and   restoring the one or more ACU fans to the one or more fan speeds from the computer memory.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , further comprising a first set of one or more ACU fans for a computing resources portion of the modular data center, and a second set of one or more ACU fans for the temporary vestibule:
 wherein the first set of one or more ACU fans adjusts to maintain cooling of the computing resources; and   the second set of one or more ACU fans pressurizes the temporary vestibule.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein at least one ACU fan is interposed between the one or more retractable baffles and the external door. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the ACU fans purge the contaminant air from the vestibule through an exhaust plenum directly connected to an exhaust fan inserted in a wall of the modular data center. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the retractable baffles include an overhead roll up door. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the retractable baffles include an overhead door on a track. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the ACU fan speed in the portion of the edge container that is outside the temporary vestibule is adjusted to maintain a temperature within an operating range of the computing resources in the modular data center, in response to the opening of the external door. 
     
     
         15 . A computer system, comprising:
 one or more processors;   a memory coupled to at least one of the processors;   a set of computer program instructions stored in the memory and executed by at least one of the processors in order to perform actions of:
 determining a fan speed for one or more air conditioning unit (ACU) fans and storing the fan speeds to a computer memory for later recall in response to detecting a request for authorized entrance to a modular data center; 
 adjusting the one or more ACU fans in preparation to deploying one or more retractable baffles that, when deployed, form a temporary vestibule within a space of the modular data center; 
 deploying the one or more retractable baffles to form the temporary vestibule within the space of the modular data center, thereby shielding computing resources in the modular data center from contaminant air that enters the temporary vestibule when the external door is open; 
 unlocking the external door to allow entry to the temporary vestibule; 
 detecting the entry into the temporary vestibule and closure of the external door; 
 purging the contaminant air from the temporary vestibule; 
 retracting the one or more retractable baffles, exposing computing resources in the modular data center to the space used for the temporary vestibule; and 
 restoring the one or more ACU fans to the one or more fan speeds from the computer memory. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , further comprising a first ACU fan for a computing resources portion of the modular data center, and a second ACU fan for the temporary vestibule:
 wherein the first ACU fan adjusts to maintain cooling of the computing resources, and   the second ACU fan pressurizes the temporary vestibule.   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the ACU fans purge the contaminant air from the vestibule through an exhaust plenum directly connected to an exhaust fan inserted in a wall of the modular data center. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the retractable baffles include an overhead roll up door. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the retractable baffles include an overhead door on a track. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the ACU fan speed in the portion of the edge container that is outside the temporary vestibule is adjusted to maintain a temperature within an operating range of the computing resources in the modular data center, in response to the opening of the external door.